THE Devout Companion Containing PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS FOR Every Day in the Week AND FOR Several Occasions Ordinary and Extraordinary Psal 55. 17. Evening and Morning and at Noon will I pray and cry aloud and he shall hear my Voice The Twelfth Edition LONDON 〈…〉 Henry Rhodes at the 〈…〉 he corner of Brile 〈…〉 1699. TO THE Truly Honoured The LADY J. C. MADAM AT Your Request these ensuing Prayers and Meditations were composed which I here present to Your view not that You want my weak Instructions for You are known to be so good a Proficient in God's School and have more of this Heavenly Language by Heart than I can instruct you by Precept The Meditations I have taken from the Psalms of that sweet singer of Israel the Royal Prophet and this Key opens not only the Kingdom of Grace but the Kingdom of Heaven too it being an exact Composure of all Christian Vertues No Worshipping can be more true or more spiritual than the Psalter said with a pure Mind and a hearty Devotion For David was God's Instrumeâ—t to the Church teaching and admonishing as our Duty is to each other in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs making melody to the Lord. In your Voyage to the Almighty You might have I doubt not a better Card or Compass to sail by than this Form of Prayer which I prescribe yet I beseech You encourage others by Your pious Example to feed upon this Milk for Babes those which are weak by tasting of it your Self So recommending it to Your Pious Acceptation wishing You all Happiness that this Earthly Paradise can afford whist You remain upon Earth and at the last a Crown of Immorral Glory in the highest Heavens is the earnest desire of Madam Your humble and faithful Servant in Christ Jesus E. S. THE Devout Companion Containing MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS For every Day in the Week c. A Preparatory Prayer against wandring Thoughts and vain Imaginations Thrice Holy Blessed and Glorious Trinity Three Persons and One God have mercy upon me a miserable Sinner O Almighty God the only Giver and Bestower of all good things and without whose special Favour and Grace no Man hath Power to perform any spiritual Duty as he ought to do O Lord I know not what to pray for as I ought O let thy Spirit help my Infirmities and enable me to offer up a spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to thee by Jesus Christ II. Make me to remember into whose Presence I am come and with whom I have to do even with a God of infinâ—te Majesty before whom the Cherubims veil their Faces as being astonished at the Presence of so great a God as thou art How dare I then a moâ—t vile and sinful Creature who am but Dust and Ashes presume to appear at this time before thee who have drunk Iniquity like Water breaking so often thy holy Laws and Commandments by committing those things thou forbiddest and leaving undone those good things thou commandest III. But I come unto thee O Lord in the name of thy dear Son Jesus Christ the Righteous who hath redeemed me with his most precious Blood O then look upon me in him and for the merits of his Sufferings pardon all my Sins and blot out my Offences Strike an awful reverence in my Soul that I may continually keep a watch over my Thoughts Words and Actions least my Presumption and want of due Reverence unto thy Deity should turn my Prayers into Sin IV. Give me a lively apprehension of all my wants and necessities and a right Understanding both of those Blessings which I have received from thee and of those great Mercies which thou hast promised to bestow on them that ask thee that so I may be endued with Expressions both for Prayer and Thankfulness and may become able by the assistance of thy Grace to pour out my Soul continually before thee Support me with Faith that I may come with a good assurance to thy Throne of Grace to offer up my earnest Supplications unto thee and let me not go away from thy presence without a Blessing V. Grant Lord that this holy Exercise of Prayer may prove a delight to me O make me constant and diligent in the use of it remembring the speedy access the Prayers of the Faithful have in thy Presence and what a great Privilege it is for poor Mortals to unfold their Wants and lay open their Desires and Griefs before thee VI. Ever O Lord let the end of my Prayers be to thy Glory always exercising a Conscience void of Offence by offering up my Thanksgivings for Mercies received as I shall be earnest in suing for those Gifts and Graces I stand in need of Grant this O heavenly Father for the sake of thy dear Son my only Saviour and Redeemer Amen Meditations for Sunday THis is the Day which the Lord hath made a Day of Rest to our Bodies and for the Benefit of our Souls O let us rejoice and be glad in it all the Days of our L 〈…〉 leaving off our worldly Thoughts and Employments and be â—eeking after our future Happiness II. Great iâ— the Lord and great is the Honour of this day above all others The Jews kept Holy the Seventh Day and we Christians the Sunday or Lord's Day They in their Sabbath were especially to remember the Creation of the World but we in ours the Resurrection of Christ who hath made a way for us into that better worâ—d which we expect hereafter III. This convinceth the Folly of the Jews who are so superstitious in observing the Ceremony of Rest as that they think they ought not to prepare any Food for their bodily sustenance on the sabbath-Sabbath-Day neither do any work tho' it be for the Resection of Life it self But God in the Institution of the Sâ—bbath so rested whose Example we ought to imitate as that he ce 〈…〉 not in â—â—sting from doing good but in câ—â—sing to Create he continued to Preserve of which our Saviour saith My Father worketh hitherto and I work IV. This Day is set apart to be employed in the Worship and Service of God First more solemnly and publickly in the House of God from whence none ought to absent himself unless sickness or some extraordinary occasion prevent him Secondly at home privately praying with your Family or in your Closet exercising those other Duties of Reading and Meditation V. O Praise the Lord then O my Soul and enter into Contemplation with thy self upon all his Mercies Consider what a great Benefit it is to thee that there is such a set time weekly for thy spiritual Relief and Comfort cast off all worldly Business then and freely embrace this joyful Day of harvest whereby we may lay up in store for the whole Week nay even for our whole Lives VI. This day furnishes us with that Golden Rule by which we may square all our Actions and at last attain to the perfection of him whom the Royal Psalmist makes
and evermore sing of thy Righteousness in the Congregation of thy redeemed ones now henceforth and for ever Amen A Prayer for Monday Night For Preservation O Lord most Holy I praise and magnifie thy holy Name for preserving of me this Day both in Soul and Body O thou who art Alpha and Omega bless and defend me with thy heavenly Grace this Night let my rest be in thee and grant that neither much sleep overwhelm me nor Satan invade me though my Eyes sleep yet O Lord keep my Heart waking lest the subtle Tempter overtake me and I sleep in perpetual silence Keep me in the arms of thy Providence give sleep to my Eyes and slumber unto my Eye-lids compass me about and raise me up again to the joyful sight of the â—ext Morning Light and aâ—ter this miserable Life is ended grant that in thy Light I may see Light for evermore Meditations for Tuesday For defence of our Innocencâ— and against the malice of our Enemies O Lord my God in thee have I put my trust Save me from all them that persâ—cute me and deliver me Lest he devour my Soul like a Lion and tear it in pieces while there is none to help O Lord my God if I have done any such thing oâ—â—f there be any wickedness in my hands If I have rewarded evil unto him that dâ—alâ— friendly with â—e yea I have delivered him that without any cause is mine Enemy Then let 〈◊〉 Enemy persâ—cute my Sâ—uâ— and take me Yea let him â—ead my life down upon the Earth and lâ—y mine honour in the dust Stand up O Lord in thy wrâ—th and lift up thy self because of the indignation of mine Enemies arise up fâ—r me in the judgment that thou hast commanded And so shâ—ll the Congregation of the people come about thee For their sakes therefore lift up thy selâ— again The Lord shall judge the people Give sentence with me O Lord according to my righteousnesâ— and accordâ—ng to the innocencâ— that is in me O let the wickedness of the ungodly come to an end but guide thou the just For the righteous God trieth the very heart and reins My Help cometh of God which preserveth them that are true of heart God is a righteous Judge strong and patient and God is provoked every day If a man will not turn he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready He hath prepared for him the instruments of death he ordained his arrows against the persecutors Behold he travaileth with mischief he hath conceived sorrow and brought forth ungodliness He hath graven and digged up a pit and is fallen himself into the destruction that he made for others For his travail shall come upon his own head and his wickedness shall fall upon his own pate I will give thanks unto the Lord according to his righteousness and will praise the Name of the Lord the most High Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for Tuesday Morning For Protection from our Enemies O Almighty God who art a strong rock of defence to all those who trust in thee deliver me I beseech thee from those Mouths who like Lions roaring for their Prey seek to devour me Abate their Pride asswage their Malice and confound their Devices save me from the hands of all those who seek to do me evil and let their wickedness and Hellish contrivance come utterly to an end for evermore II. I magnifie thy holy Name for thy preservation of me this Night Grant that I may walk this Day according to thy heavenly will in all things not returning evil for good but on the contrary good for evil Disperse from me all clouds of Envy Hatred or Malice which seem to hover over me and though heaviness may endure for a Night yet O Lord let thy Joy and light of thy countenance appear in the Morning III. Give me Grace not to rejoice in any thing that displeaseth thee but evermore to delight in those things which are most pleasing to thee be they never so disagreeable to my desires Defend me O Lord from all shame and disgraces of this life mortifie all the corrupt affections that are in me and pardon the innumerable Sins which I have committed Bless preserve and keep me this Day by thy power from sin shame and all evil and so direct me by thy â—ace that all my thoughts words and works may please â—hee through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Noon For God's Grace and Favour O God most Holy who guidest and governest all those that trust in thee I beseech thee defend me daily cherish comfort govern and counsel me in all my enterprises so that I may employ this Day and all the days of my Life according to thy blessed will setting thee always before my eyes and aiming at thy Glory II. Let me earnestly seek and find thee O my hearts desire and let me hold thee fast whom my Soul loveth let me enjoy thee O my spiritual comfort in all my faculties even in my heart let me possess thee Be thou for ever present with me in all my undertakings let thy Favour refresh me and thy Grace which is sufficient for me support me though I walk through this valley and shadow of Death I may fear no Evil while thy rod and thy staff comfort me III. Convert and turn the hearts of those which seek to do me Evil and do hate me without a cause keep me from their anger which is fierce and from the wrath of them which are cruel and bring them down in their high imaginations lest they be too proud Grant that the remaining part of this Day I may walk in thy Fear so that at the last I may enter into thy Glory through the merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour Amen A Prayer for Tuesday Night Of Thanksgiving for God's Mercies I Render thee most humble and hearty Thanks for thy Preservation of me this Day and relieving me according to my several Necessities Thou hast this Day past defended me from all Danger given me my daily Bread and hourly breath continue still I beseech thee thy undeserved Mercies towards me and accept this my Evening Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving II. Let not the meanness of my Devotion cause thee to turn away thine Eyes from me but according to thine accustomed kindness spare thy Servant good Lord and be not angry with him for ever Preserve me this Night O thou that preservest all the World and taking my natural repose I may through thy protection and ready help be defended both now and evermore Amen Meditations for Wednesday THe Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy-work One day telleth another and one night certifieth another There is neither speech nor language but their voices are heard among them Their sound is gone out into all lands and their words unto
the Grave I praise thee O Lord from the very bottom of my heart for all thy love and boundless mercy and kindness for thy holy Incarnation Passion Resurrection and Ascention into Heaven and sitting at the right hand of God the Father where thou makest Intercession for me II. In thy merits I beseech thee to look upon me thou art that living Sacrifice that was offered up for me and in thy Name do I offer up unto thee this my morning Sacrifice evermore praising thee and magnifying thy holy Name Mortifie in me all fleshly Corruptions quicken me in the inner Man By the power of thy death let me die unto Sin and by the power of thy Resurrection let me rise to Righteousness and newness of Life Let the one as an antidote expel the poison of Ungodlyness and the other as a restorative excite me to Holiness III. Enlighten my Understanding that I may know thy Will reform my Life that I may do all things aright and to discern Good and Evil. Teach me to fear thy Name to neglect all things in regard of thee to be grieved at my own and others Sins but rejoyce exceedingly whensoever I can please thee Let me this Day labour that whatsoever I do may be pleasing in thy sight as I am thy Servant let me depend upon thee and as I am a Christian walk worthy of my Vocation and Calling IV. Be gracious and favourable unto the whole Church and bless every particular Member thereof be good to the light of our Eyes the breath of our Nostrils thy Solomon our gracious King bless thine own Tribe the Tribe of Levi the Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and let thy Peace rest upon those that pray for our Peace wheresoever dispersed over the Face of the whole Earth Lord keep me the remaining part of this Day in thy Truth and give me Peace and true Faith in thee now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for Thursday Noon For God's Blessing on our Endeavours O Eternal and most gracious God who though thou art ever infinite yet enlargest thy self by the number of our Prayers and takest our often Petitions to thee to be an addition to thy Glory so great is thy Humility toward poor Mortals I most humbly beseech thee O Lord that thine Eyes may continually attend upon me and thy Grace daily defend me from all danger succour cherish and comfort me in my Necessities and govern all my counsels Studies and Labours so that I may spend this Day according to thy blessed Will and the discharge of my own Conscience that warily avoiding all things that may displease thee and setting always before my Eyes thy Fear I may by the assistance of thy heavenly Grace and the guidance of thy holy Spirit work that which is acceptable and pleasing unto thee unto thy Praise and Glory for ever Amen A Prayer for Thursday Night For Deliverance from Sudden Death O Lord most holy the giver of all good things and the protector of all those that love thee I give thee most humble and hearty thanks nor only for thy preservation of me this day but all my life O Lord forgive me the Offences I have committed against thee this Day blot out all my sins with the blood of thy dear Son â—esus Christ and I beseech thee for his sake remember them no more II. Vouchsafe O Lord to extend thine accustomed goodness and protection over me this Night that I may peaceably and quietly take my rest which thou hast appointed for the refreshing of my wearied and weak body and I beseech thee to defend me that nothing hurt me keep me also good Lord from sudden and unprovided Death and preserve me by the guard of thy holy Angels that I may enjoy my rest this Night in thee until the Morning and then give my self to the fulfilling of my Duty the discharge of my Employment and the working of thy will unto my life's end III. In whose Name I referr my self wholly to the Almighty Protection even in the Name of thy blessed Son Jesus Christ the Righteous beseeching thee that when this Life shall have an end and my last sleep being come I may take my everlasting Rest with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom for the which Kingdom I do heartily beseech thee of thine inestimable goodness to fit and prepare me and all other thy Servants to the attainment of the same for the glory of thy holy Name and the everlasting comfort of our own Souls Amen Meditations for Friday THe Lord even the most mighty God hath spoken and called the world from the rising up of the Sun unto the going down thereof Out of Sâ—on hath God appeared in perfect beauty Our God shall comâ— and shall not keep silence there shâ—ll go before him a consuming firâ— and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him He shall call the Heaven from above and the Earth that he mâ—y judge his People Gather my Saints together unto me those that have made a Covenant with me with Sacrifice And the Heavens shâ—ll declare his Righteousness for God is Judge himself Hear O my People and I will speak I my self will testifie against thee O Israel for I am God even thy God I will not reprove thee because of thy Sacrifices or for thy Burnt-offerings because they were not always before me I will take no Bullock out of thine house nor He-goats out of thy fold For all the Beasts of the Forest are mine and so are the Cattle upon a thousand hills I know all the Fowls upon the mountains and the wild Beasts of the field are in my sight If I be hungry I will not tell thee for the whole world is mine and all that is therein Thinkest thou that I will eat Bulls flesh and drink the blood of Goats Offer unto God thanksgiving and pay thy vows unto the most highest And call upon me in the time of trouble so will I hear thee and thou shalt praise me But unto the ungodly said God why dost thou preach my Laws and takest my Covenant in thy mouth Whereas thou hatest to be reformed and hast cast my Words behind thee When thou sawest a thief thou consentedst unto him and hâ—st been partaker with the Adulterers Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit Thou satest and spakest against thy Brother yea and hast slandered thine own Mother's Son These things hast thou done and I held my tongue and thou thoughtest wickedly that I am even such a one as they self but I will reprove thee and set before thee the things that thou hast done O consider this ye that forgâ—t God lest I pluck you away and there be none to deliver you Whoso offereth me thanks and praise he honoureth me and to him that ordereth his conversatition aright will I shew the salvation of God Glory be to the Father c. As it was in the beginning c. A Prayer for
mention of to be a pattern of true Goodness and tells you The Lord ordereth a good Man's going and maketh his way acceptable to himself Though he fall he shall not be cast away for the Lord upholdeth him with his Hand VII The Law of God is in his Heart and his goings shall not slide O send out thy Light and thy Truth that they may lead me and bring me unto thy holy Hill and to thy Dwelling And that I may go unto the Altar of God even unto the God of my Joy and Gladness and upon the Harp will I give Thanks unto thee O God my God We wait for thy Loving-kindness O God in the midst of thy Temple A Morning Prayer for Sunday For the Worship of God MOst mighty and gracious God which hast brought me out of the Night's Darkness into the marvellous Light of thy Truth to see the Light of thy Love that I may rejoice in the Day of my Visitation and Salvation whereby the Day-spring from on high hath visited me and in the Day of Salvation thou wilt succour me II. This Day make me hear thy Voice and not harden my Heart through unbelief or deceitfulness of Sin but that by Faith I may enter into thy promised Rest Give Grace unto me O Lord and to all People to walk circumspectly and diligently to do such good Works wherewith thou may'st be well pleased so that walking in thy Ways and according to thy Commandments I may work out my own Salvation with fear and trembling that as my Body draws nearer the Grave my Soul may approach the nearer Heaven III. O Lord I beseech thee to be merciful unto me and as of thy goodness thou givest me time to Repent so of thine infinite Mercy give me such a true holy and perfect Repentance never to be repented of And grant O Lord that I may unfeignedly Resolve and effectually Labour to amend my Life this Day even to my Life's end that so I may never be tempted above what I am able to bear IV. I am beginning the Week but alas I begin not to be reâ—ormed in my Life and Conversation but the more Weeks pass over my Head the greater burthen of Sin I take upon my Back and do the more defile my Conscienâ—e Day by Day I run on in my Wickedness and never say to my self What have I done If I should at this Week's end cast up the Account of my good Deeds how few Lines alas would they contain V. O Lord I beseech thee pardon and forgive me all my Sins remove them out of thy presence as far distant as the East is from the West Accept of me in the Death and Passion of thy Son Jesus Christ that wherâ— I shall come into thy Temple to compass thine Altar my Prayers may come up before thee as Incense and the lifting up of my Hands as an Evening Sacrifice VI. And as I desire that thou wouldst hear me calling upon thee in my Prayers so give me Grace to hear thee calling upon me in thy Word It is the word of Truth Wisdom Righteousness and Reconciliation which is able to save my Soul in the Day of the Lord Jesus grant therefore that I may hear it with Reverence receive it with Meekness and mingle it with Faith that it may accomplish in me that good Work for which thou hast sent it VII I know not alas how to Worship thee as I ought my Sins have made a Wall of separation betwixt-thee and me so that neither my Prayers can ascend up unto thee as they should nor thy Graces descend upon me as I would desire them O break I beseech thee this partition-Wall slide thou down into the secret Habitation of my Heart by thy mighty Power and strengthen every privy Corner of that neglected House by the brightness of thy Illumination feed thou every secret part both of my Mind and Body keep me from Sin and let me serve thee this Day in thy Sanctuary VIII Bless those Messengers oâ— thine O Lord that break untâ— me the Bread of Life As thoâ— hast placed them like Beacons oâ— thy holy Hill the Church givâ— them Grace with the five Wisâ— Virgins that their Light may never go forth but still shine brightly to arm us thy People against the Invasion of that Enemy of Mankind the Devil and his Army that Day and Night seek to devour us IX Let me spend the rest of my uncertain Life in a renewed Repentance for my Sins past and an holy Resolution to serve thee for the time to come Grant O Lord these and all other Graces meet for me for thy Son's sake my only Lord and Saviour To whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost be all Praise and Glory for evermore Amen A Prayer at our Entrance into the Church O Almighty God who dwellest in that Light which no mortal is able to approach unto yet art present with us in this thy sacred House O Lord my God my only Comfort and Riches what am I that I dare speak unto thee I am thy poor Servant teach me to climb and ascend up unto thee by Invocation and Prayer II. Make this Religious Place as thine Ark and let thy Dove thy holy Spirit enter in at these windows let a good measure of thy word and an effectual preaching thereof be evermore preserved and distributed in this place let no evil Leprosie ever enter into these Walls nor the hand of Sacrilege ever fall upon them III. The Harvest is great but the Labourers are few send forth I beseech thee more into thy Vineyard and endue them with such Wisdom as becometh thy holy Gospel Open unto them the Door of Utterance and unto me the Gate of Understanding that they may faithfully dispend thy Mysteries and I fervently embrace the same to thy Glory and the Salvation of my Soul through Jesus Christ my only Lord and Saviour Amen A Prayer for Sunday Noon For Perseverance O God most gracious and merciful who hatest noâ—hing that thou hast made but â—rt willing that all should parâ—ake of thy Coelestial Love I â—ave this day visited thy House â—he Place where thine Honour dwelleth grant I beseech thee that I may still persevere and press forward in that holy Duty of serving thee all the Days of my Life II. Vouchsafe to me O Lord I beseech thee thy Heavenly Grace that I may avoid the precipices of Sin which lead to destruction and endeavour to serve thee in Holiness and Righteousness all the Days of my Life Grant that in thy Light I may see Light and as I have begun this Day in praising and lauding thy holy Name so let it end to thy Glory To whom be ascribed all Honour Power and Glory both now and for evermore Amen A Prayer for the Afternoon after Sermon A Thanksgiving for the Word preached O Lord most Holy whose Truth endureth from everlasting to everlasting Thou hast been merciful and gracious to me and hast filled me which am